Chain actuated railway hopper gate

ABSTRACT

A hopper car including a plurality of longitudinally spaced discharge openings forming a trough type discharge arrangement having converging slope sheets which provide a plurality of spaces separating the discharge openings. A discharge gate arrangement includes a closure gate for each of the discharge openings, the gate comprising a plurality of individual sections which are sequentially movable into the spaces between the discharge openings to an out-of-the-way open position with the sections vertically stacked within said spaces. The spaces provided between the discharge openings also support, on a frame structure therein, rotatable shafts including reel means or pulley arrangements about which chains are trained, the said chains being connected to one of the gate sections for sequentially moving the sections between the open and closed positions. Another shaft is positioned adjacent each opening provided at opposite ends of the car to which the chains of one of the pulleys within the space are connected for operating the movement of the discharge gates. During the opening of each gate, the shaft is rotated so that the chain winds around the pulley and during the initial opening a high torque is exerted on the first gate section to move the same and the speed of the initial movement is comparatively slow. As the chain further winds onto the pulley, the gate sections are moved more rapidly and less torque is exerted by virtue of the chain winding. The converse is achieved when it is desired to close the gate; the other cooperating shaft and pulley initially exert a high operating torque to move the first section of the gate and as the chain winds about the last mentioned pulley the diameter increases lessening the torque and increasing the speed of operation.

D United States Patent [151 3,675,591 Nagy et al. 1 July 11, 1972 [54]CHAIN ACTUATED RAILWAY HOPPER Primal Examiner-Arthur L. La Point GATEAssistant Examiner-Howard Beltran memos: W J gy; William R. Shaver. bothof AuomeyHilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell Munster. lnd. I 57]ABSTRACT [73] Asslgnee" human Chicago A hopper car including a pluralityof longitudinally spaced [22] Filed: June 1, 1970 discharge openingsforming a trough type discharge arrangement having converging slo sheetswhich rovide a plurality [2 App! 42369 of spaces separating thedis/:liarge openingsl A discharge gate arrangement includes a closuregate for each of the discharge [52] US. Cl. ..105/253, 105/282 R,105/300. openings. the gate comprising a plurality of individualsections 105/306, 242/54. 242/1 17 which are sequentially movable intothe spaces between the [51] lnt.Cl. ..B6ld 7/02. 861d 7/20. 861d 7/26discharge openings to an out-of-the-way open position with Field mm105/247. 248. 253. 282 R, 282 P, the sections vertically stacked withinsaid spaces. The spaces 05/3 v 3 1 /832; 242/5 4. 100. l 17 rovidedbetween the discharge openings also support. on a frame structuretherein, rotatable shafts including reel means l l Referenm Ci'ed orpulley arrangements about which chains are trained. the said chainsbeing connected to one of the gate sections for UNTED STATES PATENTSsequentially moving the sections between the open and closed 748.22112/1903 Shefiield et al. 105/282 R positions. Another shaft ispositioned adjacent each opening 837.417 12/1906 Miller.... 105/282 R Xprovided at opposite ends of the car to which the chains ofone 887,2255/1908 Post 105/282 R of the pulleys within the space are connected foroperating the 1.465.375 8/1923 Stovall 105/247 movement of the dischargegates. During the opening of each 23 6. 95 Hanson 4 a v 5/ R gate, theshaft is rotated so that the chain winds around the 3,34 0! 10/1 7 e n eal 5/2 2 R X pulley and during the initial opening a high torque isexerted 3.472.173 1 hr 105/282 R on the first gate section to move thesame and the speed of the 3 J 3 l2/l Fl R initial movement iscomparatively slow. As the chain further |-l22v273 2/1914 Hansen-m l4/332 winds onto the pulley. the gate sections are moved more 2359x707 1H1953 -Y 05/232 R x rapidly and less torque is exerted by virtue of thechain windl2/l9l4 Han "/282 P X ing. The converse is achieved when it isdesired to close the 2.363.393 11/1944 Burnett ..242/1 17 X at the otherting haft and pulley initially exert a 1131478 6/ l 964 Haflanderm highoperating torque to move the first section of the gate and 1433" 783/l969 Floehr as the chain winds about the last mentioned pulley thediame- 3.472.179 10/1969 Floehr ter increases lessening the torque andincreasing the speed of operation.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEflJuL 1 1 m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 IN VENTORSERNST d MGY WILI IAM R SHA%? z 5/ 6% P'A'TENTEDJuL 1 1 m2 SHEET 3 OF 3 IN VEN TURS ERNEST J. NAGY BY WILLIAjv? R. SHA van W Q 4 CHAIN ACTUA'I'EDRAILWAY HOPPER GATE SUMMARY The present invention is an improvement overapplicants patent application, Ser. No. 801,634, filed Feb. 24, 1969,now abandoned, and is also an improvement over applicantscontinuation-in-part patent application, Ser. No. 39,682 filed May 20,I970.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide an improved gatearrangement for a plurality of discharge openings of a hopper carforming a trough type of discharge arrange ment wherein each of thegates for the arrangement includes the advantages of high torque ininitially breaking the gates loose from the closed position andthereafier increasing the speed of movement with a lesser torque. Thepresent invention contemplates a plurality of discharge openings eachhaving a sectional type of discharge gate which is actuated by operatingshafts rotatably positioned on opposite longitudinal ends of thedischarge opening and which include reel or pulley type members on whicha chain is connected, the said chain being connected to one of thesections of a sectionalized gate arrangement. As one shaft and pulleyarrangement winds up the chain thereon, the other unwinds thus affordingextremely high torque application at the initial opening or closing ofthe gate and subsequently as the gate is being moved, the speedincreasing. Therefore, the prime object of a high speed and high torquegate operating mechanism is achieved by the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of arailway hopper car;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a discharge gate arrangement for one of thedischarge openings of a railway hopper car;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3of FIG. 2, also disclosing portions of a hopper arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the gate arrangement takensubstantially along the line 4 -4 of FIG. 2, with certain portionsbroken away;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a pair of gate sections inoverlapping relation including sealing means at a rear end of one of thesections and cooperating seal means at the forward end of another gatesection;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a railwayhopper car It] includes a body generally designated 11 and at oppositeends thereof includes a suitable under-frame structure provided withcenter sill sections 12. Conventional trucks l3 support the center sills12. The body 11 includes a plurality of hoppers 14 provided byvertically extending side sheets or walls 15 suitably connected totransversely extending end slope sheets 16. The hopper car 10 isprovided with a trough type discharge arrangement which is formed of aplurality of intermediate slope sheets I! of inverted V-shapedconfiguration which between the hoppers provide a space 18. Theintermediate slope sheets 17 provide, as in the present case, threedischarge openings designated at A. A lesser or greater number of suchopenings A can of course be provided depending upon the length and sizeof the railway hopper car.

The openings A are controlled by a discharge gate and frame arrangementgenerally designated 19. The gate and frame arrangement I9 includes atopposite ends of the body ll transversely extending vertical walls 20.Each of the intermediate slope sheets which diverge downwardly areconnected to a transversely extending angle wall member 21 as best shownin FIG. 4. Thus, each opening A is provided at its ends with either avertical wall 20 or an angle wall member 21, the latter being connectedto each of the diverging intermediate slope sheets 17. As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the gate and frame arrangement 19 also includes a pair oflongitudinally extending and laterally spaced side wall members 22 whichare connected to the opposite ends of the walls 20 and 21. The verticalwall members 20 are provided with flared edges 23 which are suitablyconnected to the end slope sheets 16, as best shown in FIG. 3. The upperends of the longitudinal wall members 22 also are provided widl flarededge portions 24 which are suitably connected to the lower ends of theside sheets 15 which also slope downwardly and inwardly to form thedischarge openings A. Opposite ends of the longitudinal members 22 areinterconnected by transversely extending angle cross members 25, onlyone of which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The angles 25 are connected tothe longitudinal wall members 22 by vertical extensions 26.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal wall members 22 are providedwith inwardly directed ledges 27,28, 29 and 30. As best shown in FIG. 7,the vertical walls 20 are also provided with a longitudinal inwardlyturned ledge 31. The ledges 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively support gatesections 32, 33, 34 and 35 in sliding movement between the longitudinalwall members 22. The lower ledge 27 which supports the lower gatesection 32 extends completely the length of the discharge opening Asince the distance of travel of the section 32 is throughout the wholelength of the opening. It must be realized that the ledges 28, 29 and 30for supporting the gate sections 33, 34 and 35 need only extendlongitudinally within the opening to the farthest position of travel ofeach section as shown in FIG. 3. As best shown in FIG. 7 the wallsections 20 also are provided with inwardly directed tabs or projections36 which maintain the gate section 27 against vertical displacement. Inthe present disclosure four sections are provided for a single gate toclose the discharge opening A. As best shown in FIG. 5, the sections aredisposed in overlapping vertically spaced relation, the leading edge ofone section overlapping the trailing edge of another.

In FIG. 5 the trailing section of the gate 32 is provided with a flatbar 37 which extends across the width of the gate 32 and has connectedthereto, and coextensively therewith, a sealing strap 38 which may be ofsuitable sealing material. The leading edge of the next gate section 33above is provided with a laterally extending flat bar 39 which hasconnected thereto on the underneath side thereof, coextensively, a strap40 also of suitable seal material which when the gates are placed in thesealing relation shown in FIG. 5, the said sealing edges overlap oneanother to provide an effective seal. Sections 34 and 35 are similarlyinterconnected and have their overlapping edges sealed. At the sealingpoints of the overlapping gate sections, a wedge tab 41 is alsoprovided, these tabs 41 as best shown in FIG. 2, being inclineddownwardly to be engaged by the leading edge portions of the gates 33and 35, which as the gate sections are forced into the closedoverlapping position, provide for effective sealing of the overlappingleading and trailing edges of the cooperating gate sections.

It is, of course, understood that FIG. 2 shows only one side of one ofthe gate arrangements but that the arrangements are symmetrical. Each ofthe gates for each discharge opening is actuated by means oftransversely positioned shafts 42 and 43 which are rotatably connectedand supported on the vertical extensions 26. The actuating shafts 42 and43 also have connected thereto operating heads 44 shown in FIG. 2 whichmay be conventional and suitably engaged by an operator with a suitabletool for rotating said shafts. Pulleys or reel means 45 are fixed on theshafts 42 and pulleys 45' are fixed on shafts 43, said pulleys beingdisposed on opposite ends of the longitudinal members 22. A chain 46 issuitably connected as indicated at 47 to the pulleys 45 and 45 with saidchain extending alongside the longitudinal members 22 adjacent the saidopening. The lowermost section 32 of each of the gates is also providedwith downwardly extending bracket members 49 to nuns which each chain 46is connected by means of a connection 50. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and4, the sections 33, 34, and 35 are also provided at their trailing edgeswith stop members 48 projecting downwardly. The section 35 is furtherprovided, as shown in FIG. 4, with a transversely extending sealingstrip 5 1, which in the closed position of section 35 suitably seals oneend of the discharge opening A.

THE OPERATION Referring not particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the operationof one of the sectional gate arrangements for one of the dischargeopenings A will be described. The shaft 43 is rotated to operate thepulleys 45' to move the same in a clockwise direction whereupon thechain 46 is wound upon the pulleys 45'. Simultaneously the shaft 42 isrotated in a clockwise direction and the chain thereon is unwound frompulleys 45. Movement of the chain 46 longitudinally moves the bracket 49and the lower section 32 to which it is connected in a rearward manner.At this initial movement the chain is wound around the lowest diameterportion of the pulleys 45' and a large torque is thus achieved inbreaking the first section 32 loose from its closed relation. This isparticularly desirable in certain types of material which, in the caseof a non-sequential movable gate, makes it virtually impossible to openthe gate manually. Because of the high torque effectuated initially bythe winding of the chain 46, the gate section 32 is broken free from theclosed position. The gate section 32 as shown in FIG. 3, moves to theleft and the trailing edge of said gate engages the stop 48 of the nextuppermost gate section 33 in turn causing the said gate section to moverearwardly further opening the opening A. The gate sections 34 and 35are similarly sequentially moved as the stops 48 are engaged by thetrailing edge of the immediately lower gate section until the sectionsare all disposed as shown in FIG. 3 in the space 18 which is provided.

During closing of the gate as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the pulleys 45are moved in a counterclockwise direction whereupon the chain 46 isunwound from the pulleys 45' which also moves counterclockwise and thechain 46 is wound upon the pulleys 45. Initially, high torque iseffectuated to start closing the gate which is desirable if thedischarge opening has material flowing therethrough of a relativelydense character but as the gate continues to further close it speeds upsince as the chain 46 winds upon itself greater speed and less torque iseffected. The same of course is true during closing in that a higherspeed of operation is obtained as the gate sections are moved towardtheir closed position. As the first gate section 32 moves across theopening A, its trailing edge and flat bar 37 and seal 38 engage the flatbar 39 and seal 40 of the immediately upper section 33 which then causesmovement outwardly from the space of the said section 33 and the sameoperation continues with respect to secu'ons 34 and 35 until the section35 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 4; the leading section 32 isin the position shown in FIG. 7 and the gate is completely closed.

In the spaces shown in FIG. 1, the shafts 43 operate to open the gatewhereas the shafts 42 are operative to close the gate. The arrangementof course may be changed as desired, it being desirable of course tostore the sections within the spaced 18 provided where they are in anout-of-the-way protected position. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1,storage for the gates is provided in spaces 18 wherein they are fullyprotected and out of the way with respect to other portions of thehopper car.

Thus it is believed that the object of the invention has been fullyachieved. It is believed that various changes in the arrangement may bemade and these are contemplated and within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A gate mechanism for controlling the discharge of materials throughthe discharge opening of a hopper comprismg:

you:

a frame having laterally spaced longitudinal side walls andlongitudinally spaced end walls connected to said side walls,

said frame being connected to said hopper beneath said dischargeopening,

said side walls including extensions projecting longitudinally outwardlyon opposite ends of said discharge openings,

a closure gate carried by said side walls slidingly movable to aposition closing said discharge opening and to an open position carriedon said projecting extension,

means for moving said gate between said positions including first andsecond laterally extending rotatable shafts respectively carried one oneach of said extensions longitudinally outwardly opposite said endwalls,

said shafts having respectively carried thereon first and second pairsof pulleys,

a pair of flexible elements having first ends connected to said firstpulleys and second ends connected to said second pulleys, and

means connecting said flexible elements to said closure gate whereuponduring rotating movement of said shafts, certain portions of saidflexible elements are wound upon themselves about one pair of saidpulleys and other porticns of said flexible elements are simultaneouslyunwound from said other pair of pulleys whereby portions of saidflexible elements move longitudinally to move said gate with maximumtorque at a low speed during initial movement of the gate and decreasingtorque and increasing speed with continued movement of the gate.

2. A railway hopper car including a plurality of longitudinally spacedhoppers each having longitudinally spaced downwardly converging wallsproviding at their lower ends a plurality of discharge openings at leasttwo adjacent discharge openings having said converging walls associatedto provide a space between and underneath said hoppers separating saiddischarge openings, the improvement comprising:

a closure gate assembly for each said hopper, each said assemblyincluding a frame having interconnected vertical walls disposed about arespective discharge opening,

a closure gate slidingly supported on each said frame for longitudinalmovement,

each said gate including a plurality of sections relatively movable withrespect to each other and being supported on said frame in relativelysuperposed relation,

a rotatable member fixedly supported on each end of each of said frameswith at least one of said members being within said space,

a flexible element having one end connected to each of said rotatablemembers and an intermediate portion connected to said gates,

said rotatable members being adapted to be rotatably driven to wind saidflexible element upon itself on one of said members while simultaneouslyunwinding it from the other of said members thereby sliding saidsections on said frame to move said gates between open and closedpositions, at least one of said gates having its sections disposed insaid spaces in the open position, with each of the sections beingdisposed one above the other in relatively vertical stacked arrangement.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said rotatable members including shafts having winding reels connectedthereto upon which said flexible elements are wound.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3,

said flexible elements being wound upon themselves and initially, duringwinding, providing a maximum torque for opening of said gate at acertain speed and said torque decreasing and said speed increasing assaid flexible elements are wound about themselves.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4,

said flexible elements comprising a link chain.

6. A gate mechanism for controlling the discharge of materials throughthe discharge opening of a hopper, comprismg:

nun) nan-v a frame including vertical walls interconnected below andextending about said discharge opening,

a closure gate carried by said frame and slidingly movable from a closedposition over said discharge opening to an open position to one side ofsaid opening,

a first shaft including reel means carried thereby on said frame on sameside of said opening,

a second shaft including second reel means carried thereby on said frameon an opposite side of said opening,

chain means having one end connected to each of said reel means and anintermediate portion connected to said gate, said chain means beingadapted to be wound upon itself during rotation of said shafis and reelmeans whereby during initial movement of said gate a maximum torque isprovided at a certain speed of movement of said gate and said torquedecreasing and said speed increasing as said chain means is wound uponitself.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6,

said gate including sections disposed on said frame in vertically spacedand longitudinally disposed relation, and in the open position beingstacked one above the other to one side of said discharge opening.

8. A gate mechanism for controlling the discharge of materials throughthe discharge opening of a hopper, comprising:

a frame including vertical walls interconnected below and extendingabout said discharge opening,

a closure gate carried by said frame and slidingly movable from a closedposition over said discharge opening to an open position to one side ofsaid opening,

a first shaft including reel means carried thereby on said frame on sameside of said opening,

a second shaft including second reel means carried there by on saidframe on an opposite side of said opening,

chain means having one end connected to each of said reel means and anintermediate portion connected to said gate and adapted to be wound uponone said reel means and upon itself during driving rotation of one saidshafts whereby said gate is moved in one direction and during whichmovement said chain means is unwound from said other reel means,

and being wound upon said other reel means and upon itself duringdriving rotation of said other shaft to move said gate in an oppositedirection during which movement said chain means is unwound from saidother reel means, whereby a high torque at low speed is exerted duringinitial opening or closing movement of said gate and a higher speed ofmovement and lower torque is exerted as said gate moves closer to itopen or closed position.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8,

said gate comprising a plurality of sections disposed on said frame invertically spaced relation, being sequentially movable to a closedposition and being stacked one above the other on said frame to one sideof said discharge opening.

1. A gate mechanism for controlling the discharge of materials throughthe discharge opening of a hopper comprising: a frame having laterallyspaced longitudinal side walls and longitudinally spaced end wallsconnected to said side walls, said frame being connected to said hopperbeneath said discharge opening, said side walls including extensionsprojecting longitudinally outwardly on opposite ends of said dischargeopenings, a closure gate carried by said side walls slidingly movable toa position closing said discharge opening and to an open positioncarried on said projecting extension, means for moving said gate betweensaid positions including first and second laterally extending rotatableshafts respectively carried one on each of said extensionslongitudinally outwardly opposite said end walls, said shafts havingrespectively carried thereon first and second pairs of pulleys, a pairof flExible elements having first ends connected to said first pulleysand second ends connected to said second pulleys, and means connectingsaid flexible elements to said closure gate whereupon during rotatingmovement of said shafts, certain portions of said flexible elements arewound upon themselves about one pair of said pulleys and other portionsof said flexible elements are simultaneously unwound from said otherpair of pulleys whereby portions of said flexible elements movelongitudinally to move said gate with maximum torque at a low speedduring initial movement of the gate and decreasing torque and increasingspeed with continued movement of the gate.
 2. A railway hopper carincluding a plurality of longitudinally spaced hoppers each havinglongitudinally spaced downwardly converging walls providing at theirlower ends a plurality of discharge openings at least two adjacentdischarge openings having said converging walls associated to provide aspace between and underneath said hoppers separating said dischargeopenings, the improvement comprising: a closure gate assembly for eachsaid hopper, each said assembly including a frame having interconnectedvertical walls disposed about a respective discharge opening, a closuregate slidingly supported on each said frame for longitudinal movement,each said gate including a plurality of sections relatively movable withrespect to each other and being supported on said frame in relativelysuperposed relation, a rotatable member fixedly supported on each end ofeach of said frames with at least one of said members being within saidspace, a flexible element having one end connected to each of saidrotatable members and an intermediate portion connected to said gates,said rotatable members being adapted to be rotatably driven to wind saidflexible element upon itself on one of said members while simultaneouslyunwinding it from the other of said members thereby sliding saidsections on said frame to move said gates between open and closedpositions, at least one of said gates having its sections disposed insaid spaces in the open position, with each of the sections beingdisposed one above the other in relatively vertical stacked arrangement.3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said rotatable membersincluding shafts having winding reels connected thereto upon which saidflexible elements are wound.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim3, said flexible elements being wound upon themselves and initially,during winding, providing a maximum torque for opening of said gate at acertain speed and said torque decreasing and said speed increasing assaid flexible elements are wound about themselves.
 5. The invention inaccordance with claim 4, said flexible elements comprising a link chain.6. A gate mechanism for controlling the discharge of materials throughthe discharge opening of a hopper, comprising: a frame includingvertical walls interconnected below and extending about said dischargeopening, a closure gate carried by said frame and slidingly movable froma closed position over said discharge opening to an open position to oneside of said opening, a first shaft including reel means carried therebyon said frame on same side of said opening, a second shaft includingsecond reel means carried thereby on said frame on an opposite side ofsaid opening, chain means having one end connected to each of said reelmeans and an intermediate portion connected to said gate, said chainmeans being adapted to be wound upon itself during rotation of saidshafts and reel means whereby during initial movement of said gate amaximum torque is provided at a certain speed of movement of said gateand said torque decreasing and said speed increasing as said chain meansis wound upon itself.
 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, saidgate including sections disposed on said frame in vertically spaced andlongitudinally dispOsed relation, and in the open position being stackedone above the other to one side of said discharge opening.
 8. A gatemechanism for controlling the discharge of materials through thedischarge opening of a hopper, comprising: a frame including verticalwalls interconnected below and extending about said discharge opening, aclosure gate carried by said frame and slidingly movable from a closedposition over said discharge opening to an open position to one side ofsaid opening, a first shaft including reel means carried thereby on saidframe on same side of said opening, a second shaft including second reelmeans carried thereby on said frame on an opposite side of said opening,chain means having one end connected to each of said reel means and anintermediate portion connected to said gate and adapted to be wound uponone said reel means and upon itself during driving rotation of one saidshafts whereby said gate is moved in one direction and during whichmovement said chain means is unwound from said other reel means, andbeing wound upon said other reel means and upon itself during drivingrotation of said other shaft to move said gate in an opposite directionduring which movement said chain means is unwound from said other reelmeans, whereby a high torque at low speed is exerted during initialopening or closing movement of said gate and a higher speed of movementand lower torque is exerted as said gate moves closer to it open orclosed position.
 9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said gatecomprising a plurality of sections disposed on said frame in verticallyspaced relation, being sequentially movable to a closed position andbeing stacked one above the other on said frame to one side of saiddischarge opening.